History in the Making - Part 2 - Construction II

ORIANA takes shape

Within 2 months of the keel laying ORIANA soon began to take on her distinctive lines at the mid ships area the hull was already at deck 6 out of the eventual 14, the fast construction time was due to the a for mentioned prefabrication of modern shipbuilding with the blocks of the ship being constructed next to the building dock then when ready being lowered and welded into place.
In theory the blocks could be of any size, the limiting factor being the load limit of the overhead cranes in this case around 600 tons, the majority of blocks for ORIANA weighed around 450-500 tons.
The heaviest would be block number 16 which would eventually house the main engines.
During this phase of construction in order to prepare for the later fitting out stage the spaces to allow for cabling and pipes were pre cut.

Construction continues. The main engines are lifted into place.

While ORIANA herself grew at a fast rate in her birthplace other vital components also were coming together in other locations in Europe.
These included the ships stabilizers at the time the largest ever built.

ORIANA's stabilizers being checked.
The ships stabilizers work like aircraft wings extending out from the hull beneath the waterline during rough sea conditions they adjust their position to counteract the effect the waves effects on the hull.
Built by Brown Brothers of Edinburgh the company had over 120 years experience in marine engineering, before the development of stabilizers it had specialised in steering equipment among those it has built for were White Star’s famous Olympic class liners and French lines legendary NORMANDIE.

Other components being constructed and bring shipped to Papenburg included the sanitation system and onboard pumps all being supplied by Hamworthy engineering from Poole, Dorset on the south coast of England, the heat reclaim boiler from Senior Thermal engineering in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England and from Italy the ships 15 watertight doors.
By July 1993 ORIANA had reached ten decks in height at the mid ship area and work began on the installation of sections of the air-conditioning system.



Various components arrive while construction continues.

The forward section of decks 7,8 and 9 are lowered into place.

At 8 decks in height.

At ten decks in height.

As ORIANA’ hull began to take on its final form many of the ships unique interior features including the statue and statuettes that adorn Harlequins dance venue and the wall mural in the Lords Tavern were being made ready, all being masterfully created by artists, Sculptors and metal workers, ORIANA would soon take her place as a interior work of art as well as a engineering triumph.

Artist Janet Shearer works on the Lords Tavern mural.

Sculptor John Mills at work on the Harlequin entrance statue.

By April 1994 87 per cent of ORIANA’s structure had been completed along with much of the pre-fitting out.
After another 3 months of construction ORIANA was at last ready to make her first brief appearance into the outside world.
With final adjustments underway and many locals waiting to see their latest Masterpiece, Meyer Werft prepared for the first time to flood the building dock which until now had been ORIANAs home.
Soon ORIANA would take to her natural element and a famous name would float again.

Photo Copyright: P&O Cruises & Meyer Werft